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Acts 18:24

in Acts 18

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures.

KJV

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

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This verse in Acts 18

Commentary

10 notes on this verse

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

Some say that this Apollo is the same as Apelles, the bishop of the Corinthians, about whom it is said elsewhere: "I planted, Apollos watered." (1 Cor. 3:6) The man with the two names then either altered one of the names afterwards, or otherwise. [DIDYMUS]

This site's exposition

mighty in the scriptures

on Acts 18:24-26

Apollos arrives at Ephesus, a Jew of Alexandria described as eloquent and mighty in the scriptures, a city whose famous library and Jewish scholarly community, including the philosopher Philo, make his learning unsurprising. Instructed in the way of the Lord and fervent in spirit, he teaches accurately what he knows, yet knows only the baptism of John, a partial understanding that leaves him proclaiming the Baptist's preparatory message without the fuller revelation of Pentecost. He speaks boldly in the synagogue, and Priscilla and Aquila, hearing him, take him aside privately and expound the way of God more perfectly, a correction offered with evident tact rather than public rebuke. The bench notes the reversal of expectation, a tentmaker and his wife instructing one of the most learned men to appear in the book, and reads it as a caution against measuring spiritual understanding by eloquence or education alone.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 40 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus." Lo, even learned men are now urgent, and the disciples henceforth go abroad. Do you mark the spread of the preaching? For he was an awakened man, travelling in foreign parts for this very purpose. Writing of him the Apostle said, "Now concerning Apollos our brother." (1 Cor. xvi. 12.)

A commentator

Ammonius of Alexandria

CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.24 · Written before 300.

proposed

He was learned in the Scriptures, able to dispute with those who questioned him and able to demonstrate that the recent events were in agreement with the Old Testament.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

proposed

Some assert that this "Apollos" is Apollos, Bishop of Corinth, about whom Paul writes: "As for brother Apollos, I strongly urged him" (1 Cor. 16:12); also: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth" (1 Cor. 3:6).

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

An eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures - Of the Old Testament. Every talent may be of use in the kingdom of God, if joined with the knowledge of the Scriptures and fervour of spirit.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads;

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture

3 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

And a certain Jew named Apollos,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

A certain Jew named Apollos - One MS., with the Coptic and Armenian, calls him Apelles; and the Codex Bezae, Apollonius. It is strange that we should find a Jew, not only with a Roman name, as Aquila, an eagle; but with the name of one of the false gods, as Apollos or Apollo in the text. Query: Whether the parents of this man were not originally Gentiles, but converted to Judaism after their son Apollo (for so we should write the word) had been born and named.
And a certain Jew named Apollos - Apollos afterward became a distinguished and successful preacher of the gospel, 1Co 1:12; 1Co 3:5-6; 1Co 4:6; Tit 3:13. Nothing more is known of him than is stated in these passages. Born at Alexandria - Alexandria was a celebrated city in Egypt, founded by Alexander the Great. There were large numbers of Jews resident there. See the notes on Act 6:9. An eloquent man - Alexandria was famous for its schools, and it is probable that Apollos, in addition to his natural endowments, had enjoyed the benefit of these schools. Mighty in the scriptures - Well instructed, or able in the Old Testament. The foundation was thus laid for future usefulness in the Christian church. See the notes on Luk 24:19.

The words behind it

18 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Titus 3:13Do your best to equip Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they will have everything they need.8 works1 Corinthians 3:5–6What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role.6 works1 Corinthians 4:6Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.6 works1 Corinthians 16:12Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was not at all inclined to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.5 works1 Corinthians 1:12What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”5 worksActs 18:19When they reached Ephesus, Paul parted ways with Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Corinthians 3:6I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.4 worksColossians 3:16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.3 worksActs 6:9But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They began to argue with Stephen,3 worksRevelation 1:11saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”3 worksEzra 7:6this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.2 worksExodus 4:10“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”2 works1 Corinthians 2:1–2When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.2 worksMatthew 13:52Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”2 worksActs 7:22So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.2 worksActs 27:6There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.2 worksIsaiah 3:3the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.2 works2 Corinthians 10:10For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 4:6

    Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in…

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 11:4

      For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you…

    • 2 Corinthians 12:6

      Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in…

    • 2 Corinthians 12:19

      Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.

    • Romans 12:3

      For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure…

    • Colossians 2:18

      Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual…

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 1:12

    What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”

    it leads to

    • Matthew 23:9–10

      And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

    • 1 Corinthians 3:21–23

      Therefore, stop boasting in men. All things are yours,

    • John 1:42

      Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 18 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ammonius of Alexandria, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.24; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 40; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Lightfoot, Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.

Read on in Acts 18 →